Oct. 15, 2016
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FRESNO, Calif. - Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and the San Diego State defense dominated Fresno State in a 17-3 win Friday night in Fresno, Calif.
Pumphrey posted his third 200-yard game of the season and became the first player in FBS play this year to surpass 1,000 rushing yards. He also moved from 14th to eighth on the NCAA's all-time rushing list, passing the likes of Archie Griffin, Herschel Walker and LaDainian Tomlinson, among others.
In a game that the Aztecs (5-1, 2-0 MW) dominated in all phases, including total offense (364-217), rushing (292-78), turnovers (0-3) and time of possession (37:19-22:41), SDSU set the tone early with a 12-play, 75-yard drive over 6:18. Although San Diego State failed to score - going for it on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line - it showed that they were not going to just take the points.
Starting on their own 1-yard line, the Bulldogs (1-5, 0-3 MW) ran two rushing plays to get to the 3 before Chase Virgil's pass on 3rd and 7 was picked off by a jumping Damontae Kazee at the FS 46. It was Kazee's 13th career interception, tying the Aztecs' Division I era (since 1969) record and tying for second in program history.
SDSU managed a field goal on its ensuing drive as John Baron connected from 47 yards to put the visitors up, 3-0. It was Baron's third straight field goal make (and attempt) from at least 47 yards.
After forcing a punt, San Diego State put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive over 6:43, culminating with a 2-yard touchdown run by Pumphrey to take a 10-0 lead.
The teams traded punts before Fresno State got into Aztec territory late in the half. The Bulldogs, however, attempted a pass on a punt attempt and Derek Babiash picked off Blake Cusick for this third straight game with an interception.
FS finally got on the scoreboard on its first drive of the second half when Kody Kroening nailed a 39-yard field goal with 9:54 left in the third quarter.
The teams traded punts once again with SDSU adding to its lead late in the third quarter. Pumphrey ended the 9-play, 52-yard drive with a 13-yard run, giving San Diego State a 17-3 lead and marking the final points of the game.
Fresno State got all the way to the Aztec 48-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Kameron Kelly intercepted Virgil at the 21, sealing the 13th straight win by SDSU over a conference opponent.
Pumphrey finished with a career-high 38 carries, breaking 100 yards for the fifth straight game and 27th time of his career, breaking another MW record. It was also his 12th career 150-yard game and sixth 200-yard affair. Pumphrey's two rushing scores moved him into a tie for the 13th most in NCAA history at 56.
At 5-1, San Diego State matched its best start to a season since 1997.
The Aztecs held the Bulldogs to just three points, their fewest in a home game since at least 1996 and fewest in any game since being shut out at No. 3 Boise State, 51-0, on Nov. 19, 2010.
SDSU quarterback Christian Chapman only attempted 12 passes, completing seven of them, for 72 yards to improve to 7-1 as the team's starting quarterback.
Playing in front of his hometown crowd, tight end David Wells set career highs with three catches and 30 yards.
Calvin Munson led San Diego State in tackles for the fourth time this year in six games and 13th time of his career with 10 stops. It was his third double-digit tackle game of the year and eighth of his career.
The Aztecs held their 18th straight conference opponent to less than 400 yards of total offense, extending their FBS lead and won their 27th straight game when rushing for at least 200 yards.